New York

27 September 2012

Secretary-General's remarks to High-Level Event on Water and Food Security: "Innovations for a Changing Climate" [as prepared for delivery]

I thank the Government of Qatar for raising awareness of the critical issues of water, food security and climate change.

Addressing these challenges is essential for sustainable development, reducing poverty, increasing prosperity and reinforcing the foundations of peace and security.

I thank Qatar, too, for hosting the upcoming Climate Conference in Doha.

Action on climate change remains a major piece of unfinished business.

Last December, Member States agreed to reach a legally binding agreement by 2015.

Two days ago I called on Member States to make good on this promise. Time is running out on our ability to limit the rise in global temperature to 2 degrees centigrade.

We should all work together to make COP-18 a major stepping stone to a global, robust and legally binding climate regime.

Since my first day in office, I have called for urgent and concrete action on climate change.

Yet here we are, more than five years later, witnessing the highest levels of emissions ever.

Last month was the 330th consecutive month with a global temperature above historic average – an undeniable three-decade trend.

This year Arctic sea ice was again at an all-time low. Some scientists have predicted total collapse in four years.

We have also seen another record year for wild fires, droughts and flooding.

Climate change is making weather patterns both extreme and unpredictable, contributing to volatility in global food prices, which means food and nutrition insecurity for the poor and the most vulnerable.

At the Rio+20 conference in June, I launched the Zero Hunger Challenge.

It has five objectives.

First, make sure that everyone in our world has access to enough nutritious food all year long. They should be able to buy it, grow it, or get it through a safety net.

Second, end childhood stunting.

Third, build sustainable food systems.

Fourth, double the productivity and income of smallholder farmers, especially women.